Arca Swiss quick release adapter with lever

thingiverse

MontanaMonk's adapter is a great starting point, but I made some changes to create my own unique version. The main difference is that my adapter uses a lever to secure the plate in place. Since I couldn't find the 3-prong tee-nut, I used a 4-prong tee-nut or a 1/2in long 1/4-20 Flanged Star Nut instead. This means I had to use two tee-nuts and leave space for the screw. To assemble my adapter, you'll need the following hardware: * 1-2x tee-nut (Paulin 222-014) or Press-In-Serts Flanged (Paulin 222-924) * 1x 6-32 2" screw * 2x 6-32 nut You'll also need to print the following parts: * Lever (100% infill for rigidity) * Jaw (40% infill was sufficient) * Base matching your tee-nut/star nut (40% infill) * One or more plates of your choice (40% infill and possibly higher) To assemble, follow these steps: * Break the lever loose to avoid any print-in-place issues. * Ensure the jaw can be inserted and removed from the base by filing or sanding as needed. * Make sure the screw goes freely inside the jaw by drilling if necessary. * Press one nut into the lever and insert the screw from the nut side, then remove it. * Press one nut into the base (jaw side). * Insert the screw through the base from the opposite side of the jaw. It will come out the other end and tighten in place about 22mm out. * Install the jaw. * Screw the lever, taking care not to overtighten as the slot in the jaw provides some spring loading. If you prefer the original screw mechanism but want to use different hardware, install a longer screw (2 1/2 inch) and use the original jaw with knob. Alternatively, you can use a 1/2 inch hex 1/4-20 screw if you don't have a 1/4 photo screw. If you want a thumb screw, print the included design (credit goes to https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1065438) and the Plate-thick-hollow-stud so the thumb screws can fit in. I added some fine-tuned files for your convenience: * Base-lever-2xstartee13mm_V1.1.stl and Base-lever-2x4prong_V1.1.stl move the screw out 2mm more, which works better with larger plates. * Jaw_lever-V1.1.stl has a slightly modified slot for more spring and grip. * Jaw_lever-V1.2.stl is similar to V1.1 but with an additional 0.5mm removed from the bottom to avoid sticking issues. These files all work together, so you can use any of the jaws with the base without issues. After making a few adapters, I found that star-tee nuts are easier to insert and look nicer than t-slots in my opinion. T-nuts tend to grab material if not inserted perfectly square, so it's best to install them with a machine screw, washer, and nut for a perfect fit.